CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 17: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after their 31-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 599402547 less

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 17: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after their 31-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 17, 2016 ... more

Photo: Jamie Squire

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer smiles as he answers a question during a news conference at the Cardinals NFL football training facility Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) ORG XMIT: AZRF117 less

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer smiles as he answers a question during a news conference at the Cardinals NFL football training facility Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals will ... more

Photo: Ross D. Franklin

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Cardinals-Panthers has lots of intrigue

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Charlotte, N.C.

Hey, don't forget about us.

As in, yes, while Brady-Manning 17 takes place earlier in the day, the teams with the two best records in the NFL go at it in the NFC championship game Sunday night.

That would be the host Carolina Panthers, that rare team to go 15-1 in the regular season, and the Arizona Cardinals, who were next in the NFC and overall standings at 13-3. Maybe it isn't the juiciest story line dominating the football world, but there's plenty of reasons to be intrigued by this one, too.

"One guy (Tom Brady) is playing in his 10th, and there are two guys that are playing in their first," Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer says of reaching the last step before the Super Bowl. Palmer, in his 13th season, and Panthers QB Cam Newton, in his fifth, are newbies at conference title games. "Everybody has a different journey. Everybody has a different path, and however it works out is the way it works out. Everybody has different roads."

That's also true for the coaches. Arizona's Bruce Arians' long and winding coaching road goes back to his time at Alabama under Bear Bryant. Ron Rivera, a linebacker for the awesome Chicago Bears' defense of the 1980s, spent time on three coaching staffs before landing the Carolina gig.

More Information

Cardinals vs. Panthers

When: 6:40 p.m. Sunday

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

TV/Radio: Fox-23, WFAN 660 AM, WOFX 980 AM, WENT 1340 AM, 105.1 FM

"I think we are the better team," Cardinals All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson says. "I'm pretty sure they are saying the same thing, that they are the better team. We'll find out on Sunday."

This is the first meeting of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks in a conference championship. Palmer won it at Southern California in 2002, and Newton took it at Auburn eight years later. This has been the best pro season for both of them. Newton, the All-Pro QB, threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, an unprecedented number for the position. Palmer has the highest passer rating, 104.6, of any of the four remaining quarterbacks — yes, higher than Hall of Fame-bound Brady and Peyton Manning — and also threw for 35 scores.

When healthy, Palmer has been a solid quarterback, if not spectacular, and he is a perfect fit for Arians' schemes in Arizona.

Newton has taken the Panthers to three straight NFC South titles, something never previously achieved. His skill set can be overwhelming, as is his confidence.